| Jon Wertheim's U.S. Open
Preview
Posted: Fri August 28, 1998
Sports Illustrated staff writer Jon Wertheim gives his take
on what will happen at the U.S.
Open. Click here to send a question to his Tennis Mailbag.
Women's
Draw | Men's Draw
Predictions
Semifinals:
Monica Seles vs. Jana Novotna; Venus Williams vs. Lindsay
Davenport
Finals:
Davenport over Novotna (unless Novotna beats Davenport ...
I'm still wavering on this
one)
Seed
Report
1. Martina
Hingis. Has lost more matches since May than she did all of last
year. A bad loss may end her reign as No. 1. She'll cream
the Iva Majoli/Anke
Huber
winner in Round 2 but has a tough potential third-round foe
in Amelie
Mauresmo.
2. Lindsay
Davenport. Nerves permitting, she will become first American-born
woman to win the U.S. Open since Chris Evert Lloyd in 1982.
3. Jana
Novotna. Her finals match against Davenport will determine
tournament winner. First-round match against Jennifer
Capriati
is all hype.
4. Arantxa Sanchez
Vicario. French Open win in June marked her final Grand Slam title.
Plays too defensively to win on hard
courts.
5. Venus
Williams. Her camp has been suspiciously quiet about her knee
injury. If it's half as bad as I suspect, she won't
replicate last year's success. If not, she could win her
first
Slam.
6. Monica
Seles. She'll get an extra boost from the compassionate fans, but
her elusive quest for her second post-return Slam will
continue. Look for her to beat Hingis, though, in
quarters.
7. Conchita
Martinez. Perennial also-ran will be lucky to live up to her
seeding.
8. Steffi
Graf. Despite a seeding 30 slots higher than her ranking, her
game still lacks vital synchronicity. Tough opening match
against surging Corina
Marariu.
9. Irina
Spirlea. Contrary to rumors, she won't be wearing shoulder pads
this year. As always, she should play a Williams sister
early in the draw. May not survive third-round grudge match
against
Serena.
10. Nathalie
Tauziat. Crafty, 30-year-old Wimby finalist still has game. Look
for her to string together solid wins before capitulating
to
Davenport.
11. Patty
Schnyder. After a hot summer, the other Swiss teen has slinked back
into
oblivion.
12. Mary
Pierce. Despite a Downy-soft draw, she'll have plenty of time to
watch Robbie and the O's make a desperation wild-card
push.
13. Amanda
Coetzer. Quickest player on tour is suffering from a crisis of
confidence. Can salvage disappointing year with strong
showing.
14. Dominique Van
Roost. Belgian faces tough draw starting with Julie
Halard-Decugis in round
one.
15. Anna
Kournikova. Form over function. Sizzle over steak. Style over
substance. Don't look now, but Empress Anna is still in
search of her first title.
16. Ai
Sugiyama. First seeded Japanese player since Kimiko Date. Could play
Hingis in fourth
round.
Miscellaneous
Darkhorses: Lisa Raymond, Serena Williams, Amelie
Mauresmo
Put out an
APB: Anke Huber, Asa Carlson, Chanda Rubin, Iva
Majoli
First-round match to
watch: Julie Halard-Decugis vs. Dominique Van
Roost
Also: Men's Draw
Send a question to Jon Wertheim's Tennis Mailbag.
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